Neale Daniher Biography

Essendon honours Neale Daniher along with Dustin Fletcher and Gavin Wanganeen as club Legends.

A walkway to the MCG has been renamed in honour of AFL great and prominent motor neurone disease advocate Neale Daniher.

The path from Melbourne's William Barak Bridge to the MCG will now be known as Daniher's Way.

Premier Daniel Andrews also announced an extra $1million in funding for FightMND, which Daniher co-founded.

Gavin Wanganeen, Neale Daniher, Dustin Fletcher, and Dr. Bruce Reid have been unanimously nominated to be elevated to Legend status in the Essendon's Hall of Fame in 2021.

A painting of AFL great Neale Daniher is a finalist in this year's coveted Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award.

Melbourne artist Lisa Axiotis' powerful Daniher depiction is one of 35 shortlisted for the biennial award, which offers a $50,000 winner's prize.

"I'm really proud of this painting, because I think I captured Neale's spirit," Axiotis said.

"On a personal level, it means a lot to me to have the opportunity to show my work and to get the message out there about MND.

"If I was lucky enough to win, I'd donate the prizemoney to the foundation and hopefully make a real contribution towards finding a cure."

Dayne Beams took particular note of some advice from Neale Daniher upon taking over as skipper 12 months ago.

"I like to think I do what I say, lead by example," Beams said.

"There was a clip we watched a lot last year with Neale Daniher, and he said it's not about what you say, it's about what you do, and that stuck with me."

An artist who painted AFL great Neale Daniher has pledged to donate her $100,000 reward to motor neurone disease research if she wins the prestigious Archibald Prize next year.

Lisa Axiotis, a Melbourne artist, spent about 120 hours capturing the former Essendon footballer and Demons coach's likeness in a "hyper-realistic" portrait on a transparent rather than canvas surface.

"If you look at his eyes, there's real strength there," Axiotis said.

"Yeah, there's this horrendous, horrible thing he's going through, but he hasn't let that stop him, in the way some people probably would expect.

"I just feel like he's using that in the best way possible and shows a real strength of character, and that's what I wanted to show in the painting – he's strong and we can learn from him."

Neale Daniher's fight against motor neurone disease (MND) has inspired many, earning him the prestigious Melburnian of the Year award.

Daniher will soon enter another life-altering phase in his fight against the disease, the former Melbourne coach having his house prepared for when he is no longer able to walk.

"I'll eventually become wheelchair-bound, eventually I’ll have to be lifted by hoist, all this within a two-to-three year timespan," Daniher said.

"It’s very costly, it’s not an easy life, neither for the sufferer nor for the people who need to look after you."

Media personalities were on hand to raise money to find a cure for motor neurone disease in the Big Freeze 2 campaign led by Neale Daniher on Queen's Birthday.

All hands were on deck to help raise money for the cause, with Eddie McGuire, David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Kevin Sheedy, Matthew Richardson, Jonathan Brown, Matthew Lloyd, Cameron Ling, Dave Hughes, Gerard Whateley and Anthony Lehmann going down a slide at the MCG and plunging into an icy pool.

"My heart goes out to other MND sufferers, but they would all be overwhelmed and encouraged by the support that the community has given to the cause," Daniher told ABC radio.

"We keep our costs down, we're a small foundation, to make sure that every dollar counts."

Neale Daniher is facing his own mortality with a laugh and immense courage.

On Monday, the Melbourne-Collingwood match at the MCG will feature the second Freeze MND fundraiser, where Kevin Sheedy will be among 10 celebrities who will slide into a pool of icy water.

Daniher hammed it up with his former coach after accepting a $5000 donation from Bombers' playing group on Thursday for motor neurone disease (MND) research.

"His leadership in this predicament, and caring about others, I think that's the beauty of this person," Sheedy said.

"He's just a beautiful person with a beautiful family."

Neale Daniher is beating the odds in his fight against motor neurone disease.

While there remains no cure for the crippling condition, which will eventually claim his life, Daniher has revealed his disease is progressing slower than it does in many cases.

"Once you're diagnosed, you're dead," he told Seven's Sunday Night program.

"I've now had the diagnosis for three years ... most people pass away within three years.

"Ninety per cent pass away in five. So I'm quite fortunate that my progression is quite slow."

Neale Daniher helps to raise $2.2 million in his mission to freeze motor neurone disease after 11 media personalities plunged into a pool of icy water on Queen's Birthday at the MCG.

Daniher was on hand to send Tim Watson, Sam Lane, Ross Stevenson, Dermott Brereton, Sam Newman, Brian Taylor, Garry Lyon, Mick Molloy, Mark Robinson and Bryan 'Strauchanie' Strauchan (aka comedian Peter Helliar) down a giant slide into the minus-two degree pool below.

Daniher has acknowledged he will eventually succumb to the disease, but the idea behind Monday's event was to "slay the beast" so that future generations may live in hope.

"I'm overwhelmed with the support we got from everyone and it's been magnificent, the total we've got to so far."

Neale Daniher talks openly about his battles with motor neurone disease in an interview with Channel 7.

"On average it (life expectancy after diagnosis) is two to four years to live, but I might bump that average up," Daniher said.

"I am going OK, going strong.

"You don't cope by fear, and you don't cope by thinking, 'where will all this end up?'

"Laughter is the best medicine - and it is the only medicine I have got at the moment, so I am going with it."

Neale Daniher steps down as Eagles footy operations manager due to health issues.

"Unfortunately, I do need to focus a lot of energy on my own health and wellbeing at this stage and the role of football operations general manager is quite demanding," Daniher said.

"I don't believe I could commit the time needed to be effective, so it is important to recognise that and bring someone in who can contribute as required.

"I would also like to thank the club for the great support they have offered me and we all look forward to 2014 with optimism."

Former Geelong and Carlton player Adrian Hickmott joins West Coast as development coach.

"Adrian has previous experience in the AFL system and has done a wonderful job locally with the Swan Districts in the development area, building a great rapport with the younger players," West Coast football operations manager Neale Daniher said.

"He has a great insight into the WAFL system and we are looking forward to Adrian working closely with the younger members of our squad."